Total: 5.75+14.64
The morning started with a quick climb to elevation where we started feeling the 7000 feet of thinner air. Then the thunder rolled... and we knew rain might be potential today. Our goal was to continue moving north with the clouda at our back and Mt. Adams to our right.
The trail emerged from the black and white forest burn onto the shoulders of Mt Adams, where steap snow ravines and crystal blue glacial mounds framed the rock as it climbed into the clouds.
As we wound along the shoulder of the behemoth (legend has it that the round top is a result of a jealous feud between Adams, Hood, and Rainier), the trail entered a field of rock slide and volcanic debris. It was a marvelous task for the trail crew to carve a trail through the boulder fields, one which likely required a lot of dynamite.
Then the rain came. It was light, but we did not know how heavy it would get, so we all threw on raincoats, ponchos, pack covers and trash bag rain skirts. Yeah, we looked a goofy troop, but its better to stay dry.
Towards the end of the boulder field, 10 minutes after suiting up, we hit a stream which was running a little too wide and fast to rock hop our way across. All of us changed into water shoes and trudged through the ice cold glacial melt. A blast to our feet, but it did reinvigorate our will to move again.
The miles afterwards were coveres with intermittent snow fields, 20 foot stretches. These stretches can be fatiguing, as your feet don't ever get a strong hold, and slipping with a pack is a unique challenge in balance exercise.
The need to cover miles missed yesterday, pushed us beyond our conditioned levels, and H- is feeling very defeated. He has mentioned jumping off at the next town, so I counseled him on how to face small goals to make the next four days easier.
We stopped half a mile short of our goal, as the campsite was nice and we were all beat. After dinner we all dove into our reapective tents.... some of us before dinner (me).
As i write this, a faint roll of thunder passed by, and the not so light patter of rain taps on our tent.
I hope we wake to clear skies, because rain is super demoralising, and some of us our questioning our life choices... including me.
Fear of bad weather has a very salient impact on me. I will sleep with earplugs for sure.
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